Hundreds of Montclair State University students' ballots are still to be counted

By HANNAN ADELY

staff writer |

The Record

LITTLE FALLS – The county still is counting hundreds of provisional ballots that were cast in the township following an unexpected surge of voters from Montclair State University at one polling station, but the effect on local races still isn’t known.

The Passaic County Board of Elections sent 1,500 provisional ballots to Little Falls – a vast majority of them issued to college students. The deadline for counting the ballots is Nov. 19.

It was unclear Wednesday how many of those ballots were cast for the local district, and how many were for districts outside the township. In the wake of last week’s huge storm, Governor Christie allowed displaced voters to cast provisional ballots in polling places outside their home districts.

But some students opted to use their college addresses in Little Falls to register, which is allowed under New Jersey law. With the opening of a large new dorm last year, local officials were concerned that a surge of new voters on campus could impact local elections, including the outcome of Tuesday’s races.

Republicans were the highest vote getters in races for mayor and three council seats on Tuesday – before the counting of provisional ballots.

“They should vote in their own town,” said Republican Councilman Louis Fontana, who had the second highest votes for council at the close of the polls. “They could vote for who they want to vote for, but the local stuff – that changes the whole town. They don’t have any knowledge of local issues.”

The majority of campus residences for Montclair State University – which is spread out across four towns -- are in Little Falls. The school houses 3,000 students in the township -- nearly 2,000 students who live in The Heights, a residential complex that opened about a year ago. One Montclair State administrator told The Record that 3,000 students had been registered to vote on campus.

The university also helped drive student participation, using emails, social media and signage to inform them of their voting rights. Montclair State also provided buses to and from the campus throughout Election Day to the Little Falls’ polling place at St. George’s Orthodox Church.

Universities like Montclair State stood to gain in the election because of a ballot measure asking voters to allow the state to borrow $750 million for the construction and renovation of academic and research buildings on college campuses. The measure passed.

In interviews, many students said they had gotten some kind of communication by MSU about voting. Many were determined to vote because they were excited about their first presidential election.

The mobilization was a new show of political muscle by Montclair State. The university is spread out across Montclair, Bloomfield, Clifton, and Little Falls.

Little Falls is home to 14,432 people, according to the 2010 census, and people are serious about local politics. This year’s races were competitive, with three candidates for mayor and six for council.

Little Falls Republicans feared that an influx of student voters would skew numbers in favor of Democrats.

But Rosemarie Bello-Truland, one of the Democratic candidates for council, disputed that. She said many residents who didn’t know the issues well still voted.

She added, “If you want them to be part of the town and spend money here, they need to part of the town.”

But the relationship between the township and the university, which enrolls some 18,000 students, has been rocky at times. Little Falls officials have been critical of the school’s expansion which they say has taxed their own public services, such as the fire department.

But MSU says it provides many economic benefits to host communities, including job growth and local spending. The issue was a hot topic in a recent debate in which council candidates pledged to try and push the university for greater financial contributions.

Montclair State also highlights its education contributions in a report, including sending student teachers into the Little Falls School District, hosting professional workshops, and providing a program for gifted students.

Hundreds of Montclair State University students' ballots are still to be counted

By HANNAN ADELY

staff writer |

The Record

LITTLE FALLS – The county still is counting hundreds of provisional ballots that were cast in the township following an unexpected surge of voters from Montclair State University at one polling station, but the effect on local races still isn’t known.

The Passaic County Board of Elections sent 1,500 provisional ballots to Little Falls – a vast majority of them issued to college students. The deadline for counting the ballots is Nov. 19.

It was unclear Wednesday how many of those ballots were cast for the local district, and how many were for districts outside the township. In the wake of last week’s huge storm, Governor Christie allowed displaced voters to cast provisional ballots in polling places outside their home districts.

But some students opted to use their college addresses in Little Falls to register, which is allowed under New Jersey law. With the opening of a large new dorm last year, local officials were concerned that a surge of new voters on campus could impact local elections, including the outcome of Tuesday’s races.

Republicans were the highest vote getters in races for mayor and three council seats on Tuesday – before the counting of provisional ballots.

“They should vote in their own town,” said Republican Councilman Louis Fontana, who had the second highest votes for council at the close of the polls. “They could vote for who they want to vote for, but the local stuff – that changes the whole town. They don’t have any knowledge of local issues.”

The majority of campus residences for Montclair State University – which is spread out across four towns -- are in Little Falls. The school houses 3,000 students in the township -- nearly 2,000 students who live in The Heights, a residential complex that opened about a year ago. One Montclair State administrator told The Record that 3,000 students had been registered to vote on campus.

The university also helped drive student participation, using emails, social media and signage to inform them of their voting rights. Montclair State also provided buses to and from the campus throughout Election Day to the Little Falls’ polling place at St. George’s Orthodox Church.

Universities like Montclair State stood to gain in the election because of a ballot measure asking voters to allow the state to borrow $750 million for the construction and renovation of academic and research buildings on college campuses. The measure passed.

In interviews, many students said they had gotten some kind of communication by MSU about voting. Many were determined to vote because they were excited about their first presidential election.

The mobilization was a new show of political muscle by Montclair State. The university is spread out across Montclair, Bloomfield, Clifton, and Little Falls.

Little Falls is home to 14,432 people, according to the 2010 census, and people are serious about local politics. This year’s races were competitive, with three candidates for mayor and six for council.

Little Falls Republicans feared that an influx of student voters would skew numbers in favor of Democrats.

But Rosemarie Bello-Truland, one of the Democratic candidates for council, disputed that. She said many residents who didn’t know the issues well still voted.

She added, “If you want them to be part of the town and spend money here, they need to part of the town.”

But the relationship between the township and the university, which enrolls some 18,000 students, has been rocky at times. Little Falls officials have been critical of the school’s expansion which they say has taxed their own public services, such as the fire department.

But MSU says it provides many economic benefits to host communities, including job growth and local spending. The issue was a hot topic in a recent debate in which council candidates pledged to try and push the university for greater financial contributions.

Montclair State also highlights its education contributions in a report, including sending student teachers into the Little Falls School District, hosting professional workshops, and providing a program for gifted students.